"High-speed driver training, certainly, is expensive," he said, "but that cost is nothing compared to the death of an officer."

Mr. Mendelsohn also said officers could help themselves by buckling up and wearing body armor.

He recommended the kind of seat belts racecar drivers use. They latch in front of the chest, not at the hip, allowing more movement.

Mike Robb of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center of the Homeland Security Department, in Glynco, Ga., helps run a training program for federal officers.

Officers train in the vehicles they will use on the job to get comfortable driving the powerful machines, which might differ significantly from their civilian cars. Mr. Robb also prepares officers to pursue criminals safely. "There's a stress that goes with these responses," he said.